Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

Tennyson Stephens, jazz pianist who starred in cult classic film ‘Stony Island,’ dies at 83

wbez.org · 4dShare

Tennyson Stephens was a "baaad" man. It's how fellow musicians who heard the jazz pianist gig around Chicago in the '70s tend to describe him, especially when Mr. Stephens merged talents with legendary Chicago jazz guitarist Phil Upchurch , who died in late 2025. The two released the album Upchurch/Tennyson in 1975. "Tennyson was a musical genius," said keyboardist Dale Powers, adding that Mr. Stephens, who was born in Texas but established his musical reputation in Chicago, was a major influence on Donny Hathaway and Minnie Riperton. "Donny would be asking him 'Tenny, how'd you do this, how'd you play this chord?'" said Powers. Mr. Stephens never became a household name, but he was a beloved staple of Chicago's music scene for years. "Tennyson was a bad cat, just a kick-ass musician, a first-call player for Upchurch, and everybody really, because he was so bad," said friend and renowned arranger Benjamin Wright. Mr. Stephens collaborated with many musicians, including Natalie Cole, da

First report: Tennyson Stephens, jazz pianist who starred in cult classic film ‘Stony Island,’ dies at 83 — suntimes.com, 4d